Since then, up until recent weeks, their form has mirrored each other’s. However, it is Heys who will go in to the game in better spirits, their 4-0 success at East Manchester last Saturday sees them occupy 9th spot in the table with 16 points.

That’s four points more than Atherton who arrive on the back of three successive defeats. The most recent of those reverses was a 2-0 defeat at Manchester Gregorians last weekend which left them fourth from bottom, but with a four point cushion on the sides below them.

Indeed, Atherton have made real go of it following their promotion last season and although they have had a couple of heavy defeats they have generally competed well and been unlucky, most notably in their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Hindsford a fortnight ago.

Heys are well aware of their capabilities from their first meeting but Jon Lyons’ and his side are only too aware that they now need to string a run of results together between now and the turn of the year to get in amongst the leading pack, which was their aim at the start of the season.

Performances of late have been good and Heys can reflect that they maybe should have accumulated more points than they have.

They played some great football at East Manchester last Saturday, form they will hope they can reproduce on Saturday.